Fresh start for Victorian chapel
A VICTORIAN-ERA chapel in Port Talbot, complete with original pipe organ, went for auction and sold for £65,000.
Bethany Chapel has stood in Station Road, Port Talbot, since 1879.
It was built for £1,700 after fields were leased from Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot of Margam Park.
The distinctive dressed stone and iron railings of the chapel stand out against the surrounding shops and the chapel became a well-known local landmark as Port Talbot built-up around it.
Historical records show the building was used as a library in the 20th Century and was still in use in 2002, but has since fallen into disrepair.
For auction with Seel and Co with a guide price of £50,000, the 6,500 sq ft building was on sale complete with many of the original features, including the church organ and wooden pews.
The online listing suggested that the building had previous planning permission granted for a change of use to a bar or restaurant.
Situated close to a number of shops in Port Talbot town centre, the building was described as being “suitable for redevelopment into a variety of uses”.
The original chapel building has since been extended to the rear of the property, according to the auction listing.
The listing described two large storage rooms on the lower ground floor, the main chapel area with ancillary rooms to the rear on the ground floor and a galleried balcony with an organ pit and other rooms on the first floor.
It is not known who the winning bidder was.